JFT-Basic vs JLPT N4: Which Exam Should You Take for the SSW Visa?
Both routes are valid
For the Specified Skilled Worker visa you can prove Japanese ability with either JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 or above. Nobody in Japan prefers one certificate over the other — the question is only which one you are more likely to pass, sooner.
Side-by-side
| | JFT-Basic | JLPT N4 | | --- | --- | --- | | Format | CBT, on a computer | Paper-based | | Frequency | Held many times a year | Twice a year (July, December) | | Result wait | About 5 days | About 2 months | | Pass mark | 200 / 250 (80%) | Section minimums + total | | Emphasis | Practical daily and workplace Japanese | Grammar and reading knowledge |
When JFT-Basic is the better choice
- Your departure timeline is short — you cannot wait for the next JLPT window and two months of result processing.
- You are comfortable on a computer and have practised on a CBT interface.
- Your strength is conversation and situational Japanese rather than written grammar drills.
When JLPT N4 is the better choice
- You already study from a textbook series and your grammar is stronger than your listening.
- You want a certificate that also helps with language school or further study applications.
- A July or December sitting fits your plan anyway.
The honest answer for most students in Nepal
Most SSW candidates take JFT-Basic, because the sittings are frequent and the result arrives in days rather than months. The one condition: you must practise on the real CBT format first. Reading JFT questions from a PDF and answering them on a timed exam screen are not the same task.
Try a free JFT-Basic mock test and a JLPT N4 mock on the same account, compare your scores, and let the data choose your exam.